The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

Karna also who is very boastful of his manliness,
he gave the latter’s robes unto Uttara.
That is a sufficient indication. The son of Pritha
defeated in battle the Nivatakavachas who were incapable
of defeat by Vasava himself. That is a sufficient
indication. Who, indeed, is capable of vanquishing
in battle the son of Pandu by force, him, viz.,
that hath for his protector the Protector of the Universe
armed with conch, discus, and mace? Vasudeva is
possessed of infinite power, and is the Destroyer of
the Universe. He is the highest Lord of all,
the God of gods, the Supreme Soul and eternal.
He hath been variously described, O king, by Narada
and other great Rishis. In consequence of thy
folly, however, O Suyodhana, thou knowest not what
should be said and what should not. The man on
the point of death beholdeth all trees to be made
of gold. So thou also, O son of Gandhari, seest
everything inverted. Having provoked fierce hostilities
with the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, fight now (thyself)
with them in battle. Let us see thee act like
a man. As regards myself, I will, O tiger among
men, slay all the Somakas and the Panchalas assembled
together, avoiding Sikhandin alone. Slain by them
in battle, I will go to Yama’s abode, or slaying
them in battle, I will give thee joy. Sikhandin
was born in Drupada’s palace as female at first.
She became a male in consequence of the grant of a
boon. After all, however, she is Sikhandini.
Him I will not slay even if I have to lose my life,
O Bharata. She is the same Sikhandini that the
Creator had first made her. Pass the night in
happy sleep, O son of Gandhari. Tomorrow I will
fight a fierce battle about which men will speak as
long as the world lasts.’ Thus addressed
by him, thy son, O monarch, came away. And saluting
his signior with a bow of the head, he came back to
his own tent. Coming back, the king dismissed
his attendants. And soon then that destroyer of
foes entered his abode. And having entered (his
tent) the monarch passed the night (in. sleep).
And when the night dawned, rising up, the king, ordered
all the royal warriors, saying, Draw up the forces.
Today Bhishma, excited with wrath, will slay all the
Somakas.’

Hearing those copious lamentations of Duryodhana in
the night, Bhishma regarded them, O king, as commands
to himself. Filled with great grief and deprecating
the status of servitude, Santanu’s son reflected
for a long time, thinking of an encounter with Arjuna
in battle. Understanding from signs that Ganga’s
son had been thinking of that, Duryodhana, O king,
commanding Dussasana, saying, ’O Dussasana, let
cars be quickly appointed for protecting Bhishma.
Let all the two and twenty divisions (of our army)
be urged on. That hath now come about which we
had been thinking for a series of years, viz.,
the slaughter of the Pandavas with all their troops
and the acquisition (by ourselves) of the kingdom.
In this matter, I think, the protection of Bhishma